Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-05

+UST 5. 1887.
CRITICISING THE COMMISSIONERS.
What II Said as the District Build.
ings about the Crockcry and the
Horse.
The District Commissioners nave had TO stand
| recently considerable criticism upon matters OF
minor importance, so far as the expenditures con-
cerned are involved, but which, taken In connec-
ton with charges made at the meeting Of water
takers, have brought the District Government up
for a conspicuous share OF attention from the
press outside the city.
The principal criticism is made by Gen. Boynton
In his correspondence, and is based mainly upon
the purchase OF horse by the Commissioners for
the use OF the engineer for which, according to the
sum OF $500 was paid. The voucher bore the date
November l6, 1885: The acting First Auditor,
The Ds BALDWIN, IN Agy1 Last rs wTsss
horse for the Commissioners that '.the prices
when IL is taken into consideration that they are
apparently for public use" but stating that as
to eSpentnTes for ennfnS ~ e one F as
Auditors office would be compelled TO credit the dis
bursements. The Acting Auditor also made some
penditures should be charged, and, after ne.
cefving letter from Commissioner Webb that
the contingent fund OF the executive once instead
OF to the contingent fund OF the engineer depart
| ment, disallowed the claim. Afterwards Control.
gave the commissioners 'sOle discretion" in such
expenditures. Gen. Boynton brings out In connec.
as nSMn
items as lone new harness bride, to order &C. So"
lone zone dark green street blanket, slO;" 'Two fne
ss two oers fine On scrip Ap letters on on bose
blanket, at 70 cents, $780," lone pair best
driving gloves 49," and other charges for robes.
lap-roDeS, carriage mats, &C. Another bill for
5000, includes charges for parts Of harness,
being slso, charged for working two lett letters 10
lap-robe." Another bill for s4e.S5 is for repairs
in the other bills
Another bill now produced and commented on is
the Dill amounting to $151.75 for decorated din
concerning this account were published In TIE
STAR at the time Controller Durham wrote to the
commissioners and asked an explanation 'as to
bleness OF the prices" This bill was not paid by
the District, the dinner set ordered having been
returned to the dealer when the Commissioners
attention was called to the matter.
commissioner Webb speaking OF the matter this
morning, SAID he thought that the attacks were
Ing change In the form OF Government. He
thought that good citizens should arouse them
selves to full appreciation OF the situation, or
these continued attacks might result In produce
ing change In form OF government which, In
his opinion, was the best the city could have.
70 at the TO the blu for
missioner webb, while the reporter was waiting,
wrote the following card to THE STAR:
In this mornings Republican q letter, written
to the Commercial Gazette, is reprinted, In which
the letter OF Mr.. Controller Durham to the Com
mfssioners OF the District or Columbia, concerning
audit NO. 1870, for expenses OF the Washington
Asylum, is printed In full. To this no objection
can be made; but as the writer undertakes TO give
in effect the reply made by the Commissioners to
n he
missioners was to the effect that this tableware
was necessary for the purpose OF properly enter
ta1n1ng those officials or the District government
whose duty 1t was to inspect the institution 1t
would seem but fair that the reply OF the Com
missoners should be given in full as well as the
you will publish It,"
THE COMMISSIONERS LETTER.
The letter OF the commissioners to Controller
Durham was dated December Is, and was as fol-
lows:
'Your favor of the 9th instant, calling attention
Asylum, audit No. 81, 22O, specifying items which
40 not appear to be necessary, and requesting ex-
planation has been duly received.
"The act making the appropriation, you say,
seems to give the Commissioners discretionary
power to eXpend the sum OF $685. 600 tor certain
Speclned articles and other necessary items and
the only question is whether the articles con.
talned In the account come within the term neces-
another objection is that the prices of the arti-
cles appear to be too high but this objection
not seriously affect the matter II the items are
sSoWn nere Sss unless wans Of be
care in their purchase. The Commissioners are
not In possession Of any Information that
prices asked for the articles are too high except
the report made by the property clerk, who makes
such purchases, and who says that the prices paid
are the usual market prices for the articles pur-
chased. Ii must therefore be apparent that the
only matter tor consideration is whether the artt-
cles in question such necessary items in the
administration OF the affairs OF the Institution re-
ferred to as the act making the appropriations re-
quires. At this time the intendant Of the Wash
1ngton Asylum Is confined to his bed by sickness,
and 1t is impossible TO furnish any satisfactory
explanation to the necessity for these articles
have concluded, in order that there may be no UNI
necessary complication or delay In accounts to
require the articles to be returned to the party
from him and return to the Treasury the amount
OF the purchase-money therefor"
COL LUDLOw'S HORSE AND TRAPPrNGs
ColLudlow has been criticised because he paid
$500 for a horse for the use OF the Engineer Com
missioner, besides g for pair of driving gloves
and various small sums for harness for lettering
blankets and harness, and for repairing harness.
Col. Ludlow remarked to-day that he thought the
correspondent VINO made SO much OF this matter
was pushed hard for material when he had 10
come down to such Insignificant matters as the
expenditure OF Is cents for repairing hip strap.
The Engineer Commissioner, he said, had to visit
in the discharge OF his Official duties all OF the out
lying portions OF the District. He needed horse
and he needed good one.
The two horses he had purchased while there
were worth double what had been paid for them
They were not trotttng stock, but good well-bred
roadsters horses that could stand the work re-
CURED OF them. The driving gloves were part OF
the equipment OF the messenger who had to drive
the horses, and were not for the Commissioners
USE The messenger had to have gloves to
keep his hands warm In the winter, and
could not be expected to pay for them out of his
own pocket; The Lettering OF the harness and
robes Col Ludlow said, was necessary, because
the horses were kept in a livery stable with many
other horses, and it was necessary to have some
means OF Identifying the harness and other
equipments and prevent them from being stolen
HIS predecessor, Major Lydecker, had found this
necessary, and had had the letter "L" put upon
the harness. Col Ludlow, having the same initial
says he simply continued the use OF the letter
IT,"
SECRETARY LAMAR belongs to the Hay Fever As
ISOLATION, which holds annual meetings where
those who are AFFLICTED with this Irritating COM
plant meet together. read essays and swap expert
ences. The Secretary is sufferer from hay fever,
and as the August days come on he has to seek
higher latitude. He proposes TO go this year to
the White Mountains. and Will leave the CITY